South Staffordshire

South Staffordshire's population grew older between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in family life, housing tenure and work life.

The population reached nearly 110,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of South Staffordshire increased by 2.1%, from almost 106,000 to 108,000.

The addition of about 2,200 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, South Staffordshire was home to, on average, 1.9 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was lower than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older South Staffordshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of South Staffordshire increased by four years, from 41 to 45 years.

This affluent area had the third-highest average age in the West Midlands and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,700 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 4,000.

About 14% of people in South Staffordshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and South Staffordshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer homes with children

This area saw the West Midlands' largest fall in the proportion of households with children.

Across the region, Tamworth saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of households with children (from 35% in 2001 to 32% in 2011).

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households in South Staffordshire had at least one dependent child, compared with 31% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 57% to 60%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in South Staffordshire that rented privately increased from 4.7% to 8.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 14%, while the percentage of South Staffordshire households that owner their home decreased from 79% to 76%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 14% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in South Staffordshire increased by 3.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Staffordshire, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health fell in South Staffordshire, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the West Midlands, except Stoke-on-Trent and Wolverhampton.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 9.7% to 6.1%.

During this period, South Staffordshire went from having the 20th-highest to the 14th-lowest percentage of people describing their health as bad or very bad out of 309 English local authority areas.

In 2011, just over 1 in 19 (5.4%) in South Staffordshire said their health was bad or very bad, compared with 8.1% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as good or very good increased from 70% to 81%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in South Staffordshire decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in South Staffordshire, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in South Staffordshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 11% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 13% in 2001 to 9.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in South Staffordshire decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Staffordshire, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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